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Heart Valve Disease Treatment Center - Anchorage, AK

Anchorage Cardiologist Doctors for Heart Valve Disease Treatment

Type of Physician: Cardiologist

What is a Cardiologist?

A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners are expert in diseases of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. They consult with surgeons on heart surgery, perform diagnostic procedures, and manage complex conditions such as heart attacks and arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat).

Specialty: Cardiology

Common Name: Heart Doctor

Cardiologist Doctors in Anchorage *

Harbir C Makin MD
Harbir C Makin
3300 Providence Dr
STE 114
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907) 261-3171

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is a consolidated city-borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Anchorage has been named All-America City four times, in 1956, 1965, 1984/85, and 2002, by the National Civic League. It has also been named by Kiplinger as the most tax friendly city in the United States.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorage)

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Heart Valve Disease Surgery

Introduction to Heart Valve Surgery

Diseased heart valves can be treated both surgically (traditional heart valve surgery) and non-surgically (balloon valvuloplasty).

What Happens During Traditional Heart Valve Surgery?

During traditional heart valve surgery, a surgeon will make an incision down the center of your sternum (breastbone) to get direct access to your heart. The surgeon then repairs or replaces your abnormal heart valve or valves.

What Happens During Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery?

Minimally invasive heart valve surgery is a type of surgery performed through smaller incisions. This type of surgery reduces blood loss, trauma, and length of hospital stay.

Your surgeon will review your diagnostic tests prior to your surgery to determine if you are a candidate for minimally invasive valve surgery.

Often, the surgeon and cardiologist (heart doctor) will use transesophogeal echo (an ultrasound transducer probe that is passed down the throat) to help determine the functioning of the valve before and after surgery.

What Is Heart Valve Repair Surgery?

The mitral valve is the most commonly repaired heart valve, but the aortic, pulmonic, and tricuspid valves may also undergo some of these repair techniques.

If your valve can be repaired, your surgeon will perform any of the following types of valve repair procedures.

  • Commissurotomy. Fused valve leaflets, or flaps, are separated to widen the valve opening.
  • Decalcification. Calcium deposits are removed to allow the leaflets to be more flexible and close properly.
  • Reshape leaflets. If one of the leaflets is floppy, a segment may be cut out and the leaflet sewn back together, allowing the valve to close more tightly. This procedure is called quadrangular resection.
  • Chordal transfer. If ...

Recommended Reading Related to Heart Valve Disease Surgery

Heart Disease »

Heart disease facts

  • Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Over a million people each year will have a heart attack and 25% will die before they get to the hospital while or in the Emergency Department.
  • Prevention is the key to treatment of heart disease.
  • Diagnosis of heart disease is often made by careful history taken by a health care practitioner. Some individuals may have atypical symptoms, including almost none at all.
  • The testing strategy to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment needs to be individualized for each patient diagnosed with heart disease.
  • Treatment of heart disease depends upon the severity of disease, and is often directed by the symptoms experienced by the affected individual.

Introduction to heart disease

The heart is like any other muscle, requiring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood for it t...

Emergency Contact for Anchorage

  • In case of Emergency, call 911
  • Police (808) 529-3111
  • Fire (808) 723-7139

Nearby Anchorage Hospitals *

North Star Behavioral Health System
2530 DeBarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)258-7575

Alaska Regional Hospital
2801 Debarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)276-1131

Alaska VA Healthcare System
2925 DeBarr Rd
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)257-4700

Alaska Psychiatric Institute
2800 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)269-7100

Children's Hospital at Providence
3200 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)261-3130

Providence Alaska Medical Center
3200 Providence Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)562-2211

Alaska Native Medical Center
4315 Diplomacy Dr
Anchorage, AK 99508
(907)563-2662

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
2500 S Woodworth Loop
Palmer, AK 99645
(907)861-6000

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